The outgoing model may have had augmented engine sound piped into the cabin but its V6 powered replacement wont. The new Ranger Raptor will have adjustable exhaust noise designed for a multitude of conditions but our favourite sound has to be from the brute Baja mode!
The newly developed Ford Ranger Raptor has continued the legacy of its performance predecessor but this time around, it will do away with the turbo-diesel motor and employ a sonorous 292 kW 3,0-litre V6 under the bonnet. Paired to the new motor will be an active exhaust system with valve control – this will allow for adjustable exhaust noise depending on driving mode and the driver’s mood.
EXCLUSIVE: Meeting new Ford Ranger Raptor in the metal
“For the next Ranger Raptor we wanted to really make the character of the car come alive, to emphasise the power and define the presence of the vehicle, but not make the car tiring when it didn’t need to be. We spent hundreds of hours tuning and developing the sound of the vehicle and really think we have something that sounds right for the bakkie,” said Justin Capicchiano, Ford Performance and special vehicle engineering manager.
The system can be manually controlled based on preference using the ‘Exhaust Mode’ button, or automatically according to the drive mode selected: Quiet, Normal, Sport or Baja. Thanks to the video previewed on the Ford South Africa YouTube channel embedded below, we get to understand exactly how this system can be selected.
Quiet – Quietest setting for all driving conditions.
Normal – Default setting provides a balance of comfort and feedback. Applied by default to Normal, Slippery, Mud/Ruts and Rock Crawl drive modes.
Sport – Slightly louder than normal for spirited driving.
Baja – Loudest setting for off-road use only. Maximum exhaust noise under all driving conditions.
“There’s a lot involved in the science of sound, and we wanted Ranger Raptor to sound the way it looks and drives. The team had to consider and model everything from the whistle produced by the turbochargers to filtering out prolonged tones when driving at a constant speed,” said Capicchiano.
“From computer modelling to physical prototypes, the intention was to create a distinctive and emotionally exciting engine note that will have the hair standing up on the arms of those who hear it. We want you to know it’s a Ranger Raptor driving down the road before you see it.”
For fans of the Ranger Raptor who want to enjoy the distinctive Baja exhaust note, a ringtone has been created. It can be downloaded from the Ford South Africa website at https: ford.co.za.
